Phaedra 2

What importance does the character Oenone play in "Phaedra"?

Without Oenone in "Phaedra," many of the play's main events would not have taken place.  For example, all of this play's main events and actions were based upon Phaedra confessing her love and longing for Hippolytus.  If it were not for Oenone, Phaedra probably would not have confessed to her guilt.  Oenone got Phaedra to confess by saying "My lady, by the tears which stain my face,/And by your trembling knees which I embrace,/Enlighten me; deliver me from doubt" (370).  Also, when Phaedra and Hippolytus are talking, Oenone warns her that someone is coming and that she cannot be seen with Hippolytus or she will be disgraced (381); by Oenone doing this, she is helping Phaedra commit to her crime and she instigates it because she never at once tried to stop Phaedra from confessing her love to Hippolytus. Oenone is also the reason that Hippolytus gets put to exiled and then killed because she told Theseus that it was Hippolytus who came onto Phaedra confessing his love for her.  It is also when Oenone commits suicide that Theseus believes that something strange is happening and that his son was telling the truth; when Theseus finds out Oenone is dead and that Phaedra wants to die too he tells Panope to bring back his son so that he could clear his name and tell the truth because he was willing to listen, but it was too late (399).  Oenone served as the instigator in the play, and without her many of the main events would not have taken place.  She serves a major role in the play's plot.

What are the universal struggles/motifs that make "Phaedra" timeless?

One major struggle/motif that was seen in "Phaedra" and also can be seen in modern times is selfishness.  Phaedra, especially displayed a sense of selfishness throughout the play.  For example, she confessed her love for Hippolytus, but yet when she found out Theseus was not dead and that he was returning home, she got Oenone to say that she had done no wrong and that it was in fact Hippolytus who confessed his love for her (388).  She got Oenone to do this to her because she was selfish and did not want Theseus to not the crime she had committed.  Along with that comes another struggle/motif that one can also see in modern times, blame.  Just like Phaedra got Oenone to put the blame on Hippolytus, in modern times one can often see people putting blame on another person for something that they truly did, but did not want to face the consequences.  Another major struggle/motif that was in "Phaedra" and can be seen in modern times is jealousy.  When Phaedra is talking to Oenone about Hippolytus being in love with Arcia, she truly portrays a sense of jealousy when she says "No, no, their bliss I cannot tolerate,/Oenone.  Take pity on my jealous hate./Arcia must die" (394).  In modern times, jealousy can also often be seen in the same sense that it took place in "Phaedra"; when there is someone who longs for another person who is already in love, the person longing often will be jealous of their longing's lover.  Although "Phaedra" was written in 1677, many of the same struggles/motifs can still be seen in modern times.

Tartuffe 2/Phaedra 1

Did any characters undergo a transformation during Tartuffe?  Who?  How?  Why?  In what ways do the characters reveal the theme of the play?

In the play, Orgon underwent a transformation.  In the beginning of the play, Orgon believed that Tartuffe was a man of religion and wanted him to marry his daughter, Mariane.  Throughout the play, Orgon seemed to take up for Tartuffe because he believe Tartuffe would never do any wrong, since he was a man who was constantly surrounded by religion.  Even after Tartuffe confessed his desire for Orgon’s wife Elmire, Orgon still took Tartuffe’s side believing that he would never do such a thing.  Elmire was upset that her husband would not believe what Tartuffe had said to her, so she felt as if she must prove that she was telling the truth.  After proving that she was telling the truth, Orgon underwent a major transformation; he went from trusting Tartuffe and believing that he was a man who was based upon religion, from feeling deceived and that Tartuffe was an evil person.  Orgon then realized that he should have trusted his wife all along because she was telling the truth, but instead he insisted on believing Tartuffe.  Orgon realized that he had been betrayed by someone he thought he could trust, so he was enraged.  The characters help reveal the theme of the play because it is Tartuffe’s deceitful ways that helped Orgon become who he was at the end of the play. It also helped Orgon to become closer to his family and realize that they are the ones that will tell the truth, rather than be deceitful.  Tartuffe’s mischievous behavior also helped Orgon to become more respectful of his wife, who is truthful.  Each character and their actions aided in the play being what it is.

The Art of Suspense, Anticipation, and Expectation

I think that Moliere delays the anticipated entrance of Tartuffe for so that the characters in the play can reveal to the audience what they truly think of Tartuffe.  This helps to add suspense to the play because the entrance of Tartuffe is something that audience is anticipating and waiting for.  Because the entrance was delayed, the audience is more anxious for it to happen; therefore they are more than likely paying more close attention to the play.  By the audience paying more close attention to the play, they can get an understanding of who Tartuffe is by the characters before he is introduced; this allows the audience to at least have some understanding of Tartuffe’s true actions and his deceitful ways before he is even introduced to the audience.  Tartuffe added a constant suspense for the audience because the audience was constantly wondering whether he was a man of religion or a man of deceitfulness.  I believed that Tartuffe was going to be deceitful and mischievous because of how the characters described him, but I did not know that he was going to be so deceitful.  Tartuffe really exceeded by beliefs of him being deceitful when he professed his love to Orgon’s wife.  Therefore, all the suspense and aticipation that Tartuffe added to the play, helped the audience understand his true deceitfulness.  Tartuffe also met the audience’s negative expectations of him through his mischievous actions.

How does the author create suspense in Phaedra?  How does Phaedra’s confession add to the play?

The author creates a sense of suspense in Phaedra in the beginning of the play when Phaedra is sick and seems to be wishing to die; this makes the reader wonder why she is so ready to die or what could be burdening her so.  It is then revealed that she is hiding a confession that she believes is burdening her because she says that “Alas, my guilty flame has burnt too long” (370).  Oenone questions Phaedra, wondering what could possibly be so bad that she just wishes to die.  This also adds a sense of suspense to the play because Phaedra insists that she not reveal what is bothering her, she says to Oenone that she’s already said enough and “Spare me the rest.  I die, to keep that horror unconfessed” (370).  Although Phaedra does not want to speak of her horror, she eventually tells Oenone.  By revealing her confession, it significantly adds to the play.  Without her revealing her confession, the play would have had a whole different meaning.  Her confession is essential to the play’s plot and if it were taken out the play would not be the same, or it would not make much sense.  Her confession also makes the play more interesting; it makes it more interesting by adding an unexpected twist to the story.  For example, the readers would not have expected what she confessed, that she felt a desire and longing for Hippolytus, who is her stepson.  Her confession leads the rest of the play; therefore, if her confession or longing for Hippolytus were not in the play, the play would have been about something completely different.

Tartuffe 1

Discuss at least 3 important trends in literature during “The Enlightenment of Europe.”

One important trend in literature during “The Enlightenment of Europe” was society.  During this time period, writers focused on the importance of the whole group, rather than the importance of the individual.  For example, French writers of this time “often used domestic situations as ways to examine larger problems,” rather than using personal situations (297).  During this time period of writing the role of women in the society is not to a great extent and children were not truly considered part of the society because it was believed that only adults could play a role in society.  A second important trend in literature during this time period was nature, the “inherent order of things” and “human nature” (298).  I believe the writers of this time period believed nature was an important aspect of their works because they wanted their readers to understand that human nature remains the same because all humans experience the same or similar emotions throughout their life.  For example, each human experiences happiness, sadness, sickness, hardships, etc. throughout their lives.  The writers also focused on nature to teach the “insufficiency of human powers in comparison with divine,” but that we live in a wonderful universe (298).  The writers focus on nature to explain things that probably could not be explained otherwise, such as human emotions.  The writers focusing on nature allows the readers to know essential things that they might find helpful throughout their lives; for example, knowing that others go through many of the same emotions that they do.  A third important trend in literature during this time period was convention and authority, such as manners.  The writers used this trend to “declare continuity between present and past” (299).  For example, although manners may have changed their way of being over time, manners have still always been present in some form; what may be considered proper manners today may not have been considered etiquette manners in the past, but manners were still present in the past, just in a different way.  The “underlying” of “all specific conventions” was believed that literature was to satisfy and teach the reader (299).  The literature of this time period did exactly that; “the two-dimensional characters of Voltaire’s tales” not only provided “signals about authorial intention,” but also “anticipated reader response” (299).  Because the literature of this time period followed a certain manner, I believe it made it known to the reader what to expect to some extent and I believe it possibly made it easier to understand.

Why do you believe that “Moliere” continues to be read and beloved?

I believe that “Moliere” continues to be read and beloved because he included aspects in his writings that people can still relate to today.  In today’s society many people struggle with power and Tartuffe’s energy comes from the “struggle for erotic, psychic, and economic power” (304).  In that same play, Orgon is seeking control, which is something that many people still do today; there are constantly people seeking and wanting to take control so they can be powerful.  “Moliere” says that in his play, “Cleante, before he meets Tartuffe, claims (accurately) to understand him by his effect on others,” which is something that we as humans do on a daily basis (304).  We are constantly claiming to know people that we have never met just simply because of what they may have done to others or because of the influence that they have had on others.  I believe that because “Moliere” includes issues in his writings that still can relate to present times, it allows him to truly be beloved because readers can understand and relate to many aspects in his writings.

What insight do you gain from the preface and petitions leading up to the play?

From reading the preface and petitions leading up to the play, I have gained insight that Tartuffe was not written to make fun of religion, but yet to only criticize the hypocrites.  I believe that “Moliere” has no intentions on being rude, but instead he is writing about his true feelings.  He had no intentions of offending anybody, but those who were offended by his play were probably the hypocrites themselves.  He says that “Criticism is taken lightly, but men will not tolerate satire,” which is exactly why the hypocrites take offence to his comedy (308).  He emphasizes on how comedy is clearly innocent and he provides proof of that by saying that many famous philosophers and honored men wrote comedies.  Although comedy is innocent, he explains that anyone can turn innocence into something that does not portray innocence, even in other aspects not including comedy.  However, one must look past their preconceptions to truly realize that Tartuffe is an innocent comedy.  Although he does not intend on upsetting or offending anyone, I gained insight that it did offend some people and they banned his play.

The Story of the Stone

On page 146 it says that the "main portion of the novel are based upon real people" and that it "draws its readers into the details of everyday life and the complexities of human relationships."  Does this technique of drawing the reader have an effect on the reader?  If so, how?


I believe that drawing the reader in by using situations that are more like reality help the reader feel more connected to what they are actually reading.  For example, when I first began reading this piece I was not clear as to what it was going to be about, but when I read that is has "details of everyday life and the complexities of human relationships," I felt a sense of reassurance (146).  Everyday life and human relationships are both something that anyone can relate to; therefore, a story containing both of these can be easier or more interesting to read.  In Chapter One there is a broad example of everyday life when the author is taking about a household that was looked up to as the "leading family in the neighbourhood," even though they were not particularly wealthy (152).  This serves as an example of everyday life because there are many families, even in today's time, that may not be wealthy, but yet they are looked up to by others.  I believe this goes to show as a life example that one does not have to be wealthy in order to be looked up to or appreciated.  By this, the reader can probably think of a situation similar to this in their own life, or even in someone else's life; this example can better help them to relate to the story, or just to understand what is being said or happening in the story.  Also in Chapter One, there was an example of a complexity of human relationships when the stone constantly gave the Crimson Pearl sweet due.  Because he constantly gave her this sweet due, it turned her into a fairy girl.  Because of this, she felt obligated to do something for the stone in return (152-153).  Usually, a reader can relate to that situation because when someone does a good deed for us, we often feel obligated to do a good deed in return.  I believe that the examples of everyday life and complexities of human relationships will help the reader to better understand some aspects of the story and to feel more connected with the story.

Monkey

How is suspense created in the story?  Is the interest confined to "What happens next?" or are larger concerns involved?
In Monkey, I believe suspense is created in the end of chapter.  For example, at the end of chapter XVII it is ended by saying "And if you do not know what befell them, you must listen to what is told in the next chapter."  Each chapter is ended in this way, which I believe creates suspense and makes the reader want to continue reading to the next chapter to see what happens.  The suspense created throughout this story is mostly confined to what is going to happen next.  For example, the suspense at the end of each chapter is confined to what will happen in the following chapter.  The suspense that is created in Monkey made it easier and more interesting to read because when I reached the end of each chapter I was continuously wondering what was going to happen in the next chapter; therefore, the suspense that is created made the story flow together better.

Does the story anywhere utilize irony of situation?  What functions do the ironies serve?
In Monkey, I believe that some uses of irony appeared in chapter XXI.  Irony is used when Monkey is trying to find this evil wizard (fake king) that got rid of the true king, but instead of finding and hurting the wizard he is encountered with Bodhisattva Manjusri.  Manjusri then informs Monkey that he has come to take the wizard, who he refers to as a monster, off of his hands.  Monkey then becomes shocked to know that the wizard is actually Manjusri's lion and that he was sent to be this wizard/fake king by Buddha himself.  This is ironic because Monkey was on the way to India with Tripitaka to worship the Living Buddha and obtain true scriptures.  This irony, in a way, serves as a shocking function to the readers and also to Monkey.  It is shocking because Monkey was troubled by this wizard, who was sent down from Buddha, along his passage to India with Tripitaka to worship the Living Buddha.  It takes the readers by surprise and makes the story even more fascinating.

First Blog

When I think of contemporary Western culture literature I instantly think about fiction movies, dramas, television shows, and books.  I think of this because I believe our society bases the current literature on things that are not realistic or psosibly things that are just simply for enertainment purposes.  I believe that this plays a huge role in our culture because we are constantly being surround by literature that is not true or unrealistic and it could possibly make the society get caught up in what is not true.  This is hurting the society to some extent because there are so many important issues that need to be taken into consideration in reality, rather than just focusing on the fiction.  I believe that literature in past cultures was based upon people's ways of thinking, what they thought was right and wrong, their basic morals, and realistic happenings.